Indian court stays hanging of 2 rape case convicts

Indian students participate in a candlelight vigil for the 23-year-old student who was gang raped in India in December 2012. Pic: AP.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s top court has temporarily stayed the hanging of two of the four men convicted for the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi.

The Supreme Court’s order Saturday came in response to a petition filed by an attorney for the two men that said the appeals court that confirmed the death sentence this past week had completely ignored their defense.

The court scheduled a hearing in the case for March 31.

An attorney for the other two convicted men, who also face the death penalty, said he would approach the court soon.

The attack on the woman unleashed a wave of public anger over the treatment of Indian women and the epidemic of sexual violence in the country.